Though I have yet to confirm the figures, I am sure that the shutting off of funding for the Remploy job creation scheme for the disabled will have a significant impact on people with a visual impairment. Though in times of recession, where there is a need to review government spending (and no, I am not going to go on about the ridiculous waste of some government spending, the lack of focused subsidy to public services, the waste of money on the poorly disguised restructuring and partial privatisation of the NHS or the deference shown to the obscene profiteering by the privatised companies in charge of many of our essential transport and infrastructure services), a scheme which provided much needed employment opportunity to those with a disability might seem a somewhat callous target. However, it cannot be denied that some of the employment was for employment sake and not resulting in any useable outcome or profit other than for the individual undertaking the job. Jobs are hard enough to find it would seem so perhaps this is the only option - funded or subsidised employment.
HOWEVER, in all the discussion around this decision to stifle Remploy subsidy, I did not hear anything mentioned about the Access to Work scheme. For too long too many employers have assumed that disability rules out most type of work. To be specific too many employers feel that vision loss prevents people from undertaking tasks where vision is essential. Nonsense. With the correct support and training and , if required equipment, almost all visually-reliant tasks are realisable by all but those with functional vision loss (a very small percentage of the visually impaired). The Access to Work scheme is aimed at assessing those trying for a job, or indeed already in work but who have suffered sight loss, find out what is needed to help them perform the work and then go halves with the employer to fund the plan. Much better use of resource if only employers were to show support. I suspect many are happier turning their blind eye to the scheme and, without getting too 'x-files' about it, may even have enough clout with the government to ensure the lack of awareness of this scheme continues.